Sir, As artists and musicians who learned to play, act and create in Dundee, we would like to see the Sistema music project come to our city.
Sistema transforms children’s lives. Started in the slums of Caracas, Venezuela, children were given violins, cellos, oboes and trumpets and taught to play together in an orchestra.
It has transformed thousands of lives.
Music gives children confidence, self-esteem and improves their concentration. It gives them goals; it teaches them to work together; to create together. It gives them options for the future; to achieve and to travel.
Sistema can spark the dreams of Dundee’s children and give them the discipline to make those dreams reality.
Sistema is currently working in Stirling’s Raploch and the Scottish Government has invested £1.3m to set it up in Govanhill in Glasgow. Why not Dundee?
So many children in this city would benefit from the opportunities that this project would bring.
We need more chances for our children in Dundee.Sistema’s success in Stirling is inspiring. We want those chances for Dundee’s children.
We want Sistema to start work in Dundee and we call on Dundee City Council to help make this a reality for our local children.
Brian Cox, Gary Clark, Ged Grimes, Tom Simpson (Snow Patrol), Lloyd Anderson, Sheena Wellington, Christopher Marra, Tony Sellars, Jason Sellars, Tom Doyle, Alan Gorrie, Gregor Philp, Barbara Dymock, Alison Burns, Boogalusa (Alan Wilson, David Oudney, Rob McGlone, Ralph Teviotdale, Steve Paterson, Kevin Findlay), The Hazey Janes (Liam Brennan, Alice Marra, Matthew Marra, Andrew Mitchell), Grant Ritchie, Alan Dear.
Fuel poverty would increase
Sir, The figure of 900,000 Scottish households in fuel poverty in David Kelly’s letter (A token PR exercise, January 10), caught my eye.
Scottish Government statistics put the figure of individuals at 684,000 a huge and disturbing statistic. They “promise” to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016 by which time Scotland may be “independent”.
The subsidy paid by consumers in their electricity bills for renewable energy from wind turbines is a factor in fuel poverty.
After independence, instead of sharing the cost with our neighbours south of the border, Scotland, according to Ed Davey the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, would have to bear the full cost of the subsidies lavished on wind farm developers large and small.
For that reason it is hard to see how, after independence, fuel poverty could do anything other than increase.
Graham Lang. Coaltown of Callange, Ceres.
Zero tolerance policy needed
Sir, The director of Zero Waste Scotland is right to highlight the actions of the mindless idiots who litter our streets and countryside (Our attitude to litter needs to change, Tuesday’s Courier).
We do need a change of attitude towards those who litter. The Scottish Government would enjoy enormous support if it were to introduce a policy of zero tolerance towards this blight of our country and encourage authorities such as our police, wardens and rangers to enforce it.
As an aside if football referees were to penalise players who needlessly spit then these “role models” could help introduce a culture of thoughtfulness rather than the current disgusting display of thoughtlessness.
Michael C Smith. Threapmuir Farm, Cleish, Kinross.
In Scotland’s best interests?
Sir, Your article by Ian Hudghton MEP about how decisions are reached in the EU really struck a chord with me (I am originally from a farming background in the south of Scotland).
Here we have the biggest shake-up in farm support about to be decided by the EU and Scotland won’t be there. Instead, the UK’s position will be made by a minister who sounds about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
We’re always told by London governments, of whatever political hue, that Scots are better off being part of a larger country in terms of the influence we can exert. But if that influence runs contrary to Scotland’s interests then being part of the UK is worse than useless.
David Blake. 37A Ballindean Road, Dundee.
Wonderful care at Roxburghe
Sir, Although frequently praised in the obituary column I should like to add my heartfelt appreciation of the superb intensive nursing, tender care and friendship which is given by every single member of the wonderful staff in Roxburghe House.
I have a relative now in her eleventh week of terminal care there and feel well qualified to express on behalf of my fellow citizens the immense gratitude, respect and admiration which is due to the entire staff as they quietly go about this challenging care of patients and their families at such a sensitive stage of life.
Elspeth M Collins. Craigiebarn Road, Dundee.